BARBADOS MFA FRETS OVER VENEZUELA MARITIME CLAIMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000001

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2023
TAGS: PBTS PREL ETRD MARR XL
SUBJECT: BARBADOS MFA FRETS OVER VENEZUELA MARITIME CLAIMS
IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN

Classified By: Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Brent Hardt, Reas
ons 1.4 (b, d).

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Summary
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1. (C) MFA Maritime and American Affairs Desk Officers
expressed lingering concerns over Venezuela's claim to a
200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) around Bird
Rock Island (la Isla de Aves) and claims to large maritime
blocks within Barbados's EEZ, in recent meetings with
Emboffs. Venezuela, they say, has a history of intimidating
its smaller neighbors in order to achieve its ends, and the
Bird Rock Island case is no exception. Many in the region
are wary of confronting Venezuela for fear that it could
threaten military force, casting a pall over the region's all
important tourism industry. With Barbados in the planning
stages for oil exploration in its own EEZ, to include a few
blocks contested by Venezuela, the MFA has identified
boundary issues as a key focus for the coming year and a
primary motivator for improving regional security structures.
End Summary.

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Bird Rock Island or Bird Rock Islet?
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2. (C) MFA Maritime Delimitations Chief Tyronne Braithwaite
and MFA American Affairs Desk Officer Joyce Bourne met
recently with Emboff to survey the Ministry's priorities for
the coming year. Braithwaite explained to Emboff his
government's position concerning Venezuela's claim to a
200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around Bird
Rock Island (la Isla de Aves). Bird Rock Island is located
353 miles North of Venezuela and 70 miles West of Dominica,
measures 580 x 150 meters, and is completely submerged by
water at times, according to Braithwaite. The government of
Barbados does not dispute
Venezuela's ownership claims to the island. However, they do
not concur with Venezuela's contention that it is an island
under UN Commission on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) definitions.
Bird Rock is no more than a sandbar, Braithwaite contended,
and as such should be classified as an islet if it deserves
any territorial classification at all. If it is an islet,
then Venezuela could only claim the 17-mile zone immediately
around the islet and would therefore not infringe upon the
EEZs of other nations such as Dominica and St. Kitts, he
added.

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Caracas Bullies Its Neighbors
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3. (C) Venezuela has a history of throwing its weight around
in the region and assumes that it can bully its neighbors
into accepting its demands, Bourne said. She pointed out that
the MFA has yet to receive an explanation from Caracas
concerning its claims to several blocks within Barbados, EEZ
that were recently auctioned off for oil exploration. These
blocks are clearly outside the 200-mile zone of any of
Venezuela's territory, Braithwaite maintained; however,
Caracas, belligerence concerning those blocks scared away
any potential bidders from even making oil and gas surveys
during their auction last June.


4. (C) In 1990, Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago signed a
treaty delineating the maritime boundary between the two
countries. In the treaty, Venezuela laid claim to large
sections of Barbados, EEZ with the support of the GOTT.
Braithwaite explained that in 2003, Barbados and Trinidad
entered into a binding arbitration under the auspices of the
UN whereby Trinidad gave up claims to all but a small section
of the sea falling into Barbados, EEZ. The arbitration did
not speak specifically to Venezuela's claims, as Venezuela is
not a signatory to UNCLOS, and the claims lay outside the
generally recognized 200-nautical mile zone.

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U.S. Support Could be Helpful
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5. (C) According to Bourne, many in the region would like to
take a firmer stand against Venezuela on its acquisitive
regional claims, Bird Rock Island included, but the regional
perception is that the U.S. would do little beyond denouncing
Venezuelan actions.
By contrast, Caracas is aware, she said, that the mere threat
of its using military force could cause tourism in the region
to fall off precipitously. Coupled with the perception that

the United States would do little to back the region, Bourne
said Barbados currently has little choice but to acquiesce to
Venezuelan demands.

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Comment
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6. (C) MFA officials were uncharacteristically open and
frank in their discussions with Emboff about their border
dispute, on the heels of a similar discussion with Permanent
Secretary Teresa Marshal in November where the PS highlighted
maritime boundaries as a key focus for the ministry in the
New Year. The fact that a usually circumspect Barbados MFA
initiated the conversation and shared its views so openly
speaks to the seriousness with which they view Venezuelan
claims. Sensitivity to the maritime border issue should also
be seen as an important motivator for Barbados' interest in
developing regional security infrastructure and in bolstering
its own coast guard capabilities. With oil prices slipping,
development of offshore blocks in the Barbados (or contested)
EEZ seems increasingly unlikely, but the irritant of an
unsettled border will remain for the foreseeable future.
OURISMAN